Creating an Online Platform for the Province of Antwerp

Digital Experience Management Case Study | Province of Antwerp

CREATING AN ONLINE PLATFORM FOR THE PROVINCE OF ANTWERP

An internal branding exercise at the more or less distinct identity, at all times Province of Antwerp (Province) had there would remain a strong link to the shown that the many ‘brands’ of the main website of the Province. provincial organization could do with a more streamlined and coherent online presentation. Next to the Province THE CHALLENGE itself, which is a governmental entity active in domains like tourism and AMPLEXOR was tapped to do the The Province of Antwerp ecology, there are many departments implementation of the platform with manages quite a few responsible for diverse brands such as Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) the internationally acclaimed Fashion in close collaboration with Internet websites, including those of Museum. But the Province also runs Architects, which was responsible the cultural organizations recreational areas and educational for the first steps of the project – and museums that fall under facilities which have their own online concept, functional analysis and needs, for example De Schorre, De graphic design. its remit. AMPLEXOR built a Nekker, the provincial schools, Campus new platform for the provincial Vesta and Arboretum Kalmthout. AEM is very suited for the tasks at hand, with functionalities such administration based on The main conclusion of the internal as in-line editing and good asset Adobe Experience Manager exercise was that the Province needed management. Without a doubt (AEM), allowing for the rapid a new online platform, which would one of the main challenges of this promote the overarching brand whilst project was the large amount of roll-out of eighteen separate offering the underlying organizations websites that needed to be rolled- online presences. the possibility of publishing their own out in a relatively short time. By the content on their own website. Even time the project was finished, 18 though each website would retain its websites needed to be built.

[email protected] 1 www.amplexor.com new websites were aimed at the general public, so there were extensive guidelines...

The new websites were aimed at great amount of users and different the general public, so there were usages. extensive guidelines concerning responsiveness and accessibility which needed to be followed. For GETTING THE example: according to Belgian government policies, the website CALENDAR RIGHT needed to adhere to Anysurfer Technically there were a few guidelines. integrations required. The most Some of the websites also important one was the integration required more than one language with Cultuurnet, which is an version, something which is easily organization subsidised by the implementable in AEM. This is the Flemish government with the purpose case, for example, for the Photography of promoting culture throughout Museum website, which appeals Flanders. One of the things that to tourists and offers information Cultuurnet offers, is a cultural event in English, French, German and of calendar. course Dutch. The integration that AMPLEXOR On top of that, it was important performed to work with the new that sharing content between AEM platform, was to push newly sites would be easy. If the Fashion created events of the Province and its Museum would add a news item partners to this generic cultural event about an upcoming event, it should calendar. be possible to display the item on Because of the vast variety of event the main website of the Province, for types, the calendar functionality instance. was actually quite complex to build AMPLEXOR was also asked not only – even though the end result looks to build the platform and get 18 sites simple. Whilst constructing this part, operational, but also to provide a the AMPLEXOR development team toolkit so the IT department of the had to take into account that some Province itself could easily create of the events are one-off, some are further sites themselves in the future, recurring, and others are seasonal, if necessary. whilst there are also events – like workshops – that are only organised In the end the platform would be used on certain days. by about 80 different departments of the Province, all of which would be managing some pages on specific PILOT SCHEMES sites. This highlights the complexity of underlying projects like this that Although most of the sites that would on the surface seem simple, but can need to be created, turned out quite become complex because of the similar, two were considered special

2 www.amplexor.com ...concerning responsiveness and accessibility which needed to be followed

cases: the websites of the Fashion Basically there were two options for share content over the different sites? Museum (MoMu) and of the Museum sites built on the new platform: totally Considering the many departments of Photography (FoMu). Because free in terms of design (such as FoMu and users creating content, this could they are high-profile institutions and MoMu) or built on a template. With have been difficult to realise – or to receiving many visitors and have their the two museum sites development manage. The key to making content own, strong artistic vision, both would took longer, which is logical. FoMu sharing convenient was tagging. need websites with a more outspoken and MoMu were deeply involved in the identity and design. In fact, it was design of their own sites. A lot of content needed to be added decided that these two sites would be again or was fresh, so adding tags the pilots for the whole project. This was not much extra work. AEM works meant that AMPLEXOR would start TAGGING well with tags and in the end, users of with the most challenging parts of the new platform can easily create an Remember we mentioned that an the project. The websites that would article on one website and be certain important requirement was the ability to follow later, would require a lot less it will turn up on relevant other sites customisation. of the Province.

[email protected] 3 A PROFESSIONAL with people from the Province and THE RESULT other partners during the whole PROJECT APPROACH development also helped this project About a year after starting the project, AND MANAGEMENT become a real success. Factors like the new platform was created and the IS AN ABSOLUTE these are very important when you 18 sites were online. work with an agile approach, as we NECESSITY did for this project. The new websites are far more responsive than before and are true In fact, we consider this project to be With an agile approach you do to the requirement that they would a real success story because of the not build everything and only then need to be more coherent in terms great interaction with the Province show it to the customer. Instead you of branding. during the development. It could work in ‘sprints’ of a few weeks, with have been very different, considering each sprint dedicated to a specific While some of the sites are visited by the amount of people involved. But, component and ending in testing relatively small amounts of people, amongst other things, a dedicated and gathering feedback from users. others have high traffic. The fact program manager for the Province The main advantage is that projects that, cumulatively, the 18 sites reach helped everything progress without progress steadily while staying true to about a million visitors a year, shows a hiccup. The fact that AMPLEXOR the (possibly changing) requirements that they are reaching their audience staff shared a temporary office of the customer. effectively.

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